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Sergio Garcia moved up to second
in golf's world rankings with victory
over Oliver Wilson in a play-off at
the HSBC Champions tournament in China.
Rain washed out Friday's play in Shanghai
so players completed their final rounds
on Monday, Garcia moving level with
Wilson at 14-under.
The Spaniard holed a birdie putt on
the second play-off hole to win after
Wilson missed his attempt.
"Second is not good enough any
more," reflected the disappointed
Englishman.
Wilson had taken a one-shot lead into
the final day, but a closing round
of 70 saw him finish level with Garcia,
who forced the play-off by sinking
a five-foot birdie on 18 to finish
with a four-under 68.
Both players had chances to win it
on the first play-off hole but on
the return trip down the 18th Wilson's
approach shot almost hit the pin,
before spinning back to rest 10 feet
short.
But his birdie effort just slipped
past the hole and he slumped to his
knees, resting his head on the end
of his putter in frustration.
Garcia drained his long birdie putt
to win the £3.2m event, leaving
Wilson disappointed to have missed
out.
"I hit a great putt. I can't
believe it missed," he said.
"Sergio played great and didn't
really miss a shot. So congratulations
for him. But obviously I am disappointed.
"There was a time when I was
pleased to be finishing there [in
second place], and it's gone. It's
about time I took my chance."
Wilson, who finished the 2008 European
Tour Order of Merit in 11th place,
was attempting to win his first European
tour event. This is the eighth time
he has finished second.
He was a surprise success in the Ryder
Cup this year, playing alongside Garcia
in the European team, and a second-place
finish in Shanghai still sees him
collect £350,000. Garcia picked
up £530,000.
Victory for Garcia, his third in 2008
following wins in the Players Championship
and Castellon Masters, was enough
to displace Phil Mickelson and move
behind Tiger Woods in the world rankings.
"I'm just so proud to win and
get to number two in the world,"
said an elated Garcia.
"I'm very happy. It's a great
week. The last seven months have been
very, very positive since my win at
the Players."
Garcia added he felt capable of knocking
Tiger Woods off the top spot in the
rankings.
"If I play the way I'm playing,
I probably can," he said. "[But]
you've got to realise that when we
talk about Tiger, we're looking at
the kind of player you don't see very
often in history.
"At least I've never been this
close to number one and it's exciting
to be there."
Defending champion Mickelson struggled
to a 73 on Monday and finished tied
for eighth in the tournament, five
strokes behind the leaders.
Peter Hanson of Sweden (66) and Geoff
Ogilvy of Australia (70) finished
a stroke off the lead, while Swede
Henrik Stenson (71) was three behind.
The Shanghai event was the first of
the 2009 European tour season, which
will end next November in the Dubai
World Championship.
The European tour has also rebranded
the Order of Merit - the season money
title - and now calls it the Race
to Dubai.
That tournament will have a £6.3m
purse with the same amount of cash
available in bonus money.
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